SCL STEPAN CO

Did the company actually spend money buying back stock in 3+ of the last 4 quarters?

Bought back stock in 4/4 quarters. Q3 2023: $5M, Q2 2023: $7M, Q1 2023: $10M, Q3 2022: $6M

Is the most recent quarter's buyback spend more than 15% above the trailing average?

Latest quarter $5M vs trailing avg $8M (-31%)

What percentage of free cash flow is going to buybacks? Bull: 30%+. Bear: negative FCF or no buybacks.

Negative FCF ($-94M), buybacks not supported by cash flow

How fast are they shrinking the float? Bull: 2%+ annually. Bear: under 0.5%.

Repurchased 623,969 shares = 2.7% of 22,713,323 outstanding (annualized)

Are officers and directors buying stock with their own money on the open market?

No insider open-market purchases in the last 12 months

Are both company buybacks and insider buying independently active? Bull when the company is buying back stock in 2+ quarters and insiders have made 2+ open-market purchases.

Need both buyback and insider purchase data

Over the last 90 days, are insiders net buyers or net sellers on the open market?

Insiders bought $0M, sold $1M in the last 90 days (net selling)

Active buyback + insiders net selling 3x+ more than buying. Company cash may be supporting price while insiders exit.

Company buying back stock while insiders sold 501569.9x more than bought